World Chocolate Day

Many favourite chocolate bars and sweets have been around for longer than you may think. Crunchie, Flake and Fruit and Nut were developed in 1920s with Mars, Milky Way, Kit Kat, Maltesers, Aero and Smarties following in the UK soon after.

• Chocolate has a melting point of 30-32 degrees centigrade which is lower than human body temperature. This is why it starts to melt as soon as we touch it.
• Chocolate was once so valuable, it was used by the Aztecs as currency.
• It takes around 400 dried cocoa beans to make 1lb/450g of chocolate.

Here are some fun ways to get into the spirit of World Chocolate Day.

Make delicious chocolate bark

Bark - not the noise dogs make! - is melted chocolate that's poured into a sheet pan and broken into pieces once set. Have fun swirling and mixing the different chocolate and adding a range of colourful, textured toppings to this sweet treat.

What you will need:

• 100g milk chocolate
• 100g dark chocolate
• 100g white chocolate
• A selection of sweet treats for toppings. Choose from your favourites: Smarties, M&Ms, popcorn, mini marshmallows, dried fruit, nuts and so on.

How to make chocolate bark:

1. Melt the different chocolate in separate bowls. You can do this over a pan of hot water or in the microwave (this may need adult supervision). Continue stirring the chocolate as it melts.
2. Pour the melted chocolate onto a baking tray lined with greaseproof paper, adding and mixing in the different types.
3. Use a spoon or fork to swirl the different chocolate together, then spread it out evenly on the tray.
4. Before the chocolate sets, sprinkle over your chosen toppings.
5. Leave somewhere cool to fully set, then break into large pieces, share out and enjoy.

Design a chocolate bar wrapper

Chocolate makes a great gift and this creative twist will help to personalise it for the lucky recipient.

First, carefully remove the outer paper wrapper from your chosen bar of chocolate. Leave the inner foil wrapper in place and put the bar to one side.

Open the outer wrapper up fully and use it as a template to cut out a separate piece of plain paper.

Using paint, pens, glitter, stickers or pieces of decorative wrapping paper, create your own personalised wrapper.

Once your design is finished, carefully wrap it back around the chocolate bar, sealing the edge with a glue stick.

For an extra special touch, why not add ribbon and a tag to your gift to make it even more personal?

Make chocolate-scented salt dough

Salt, or ‘play’ dough is a versatile material that can be used to encourage a range of developmental skills. Squishing, rolling and flattening the dough helps your child develop muscles in their hands that are important for a range of fine motor activities. This scented version adds an extra element of fun for children with vision impairment.

What you will need:

• 157g plain flour
• 32g salt
• 64g cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 cup water

How to make chocolate-scented dough

1. Mix all the ingredients together in a large saucepan.
2. Cook over a medium-low heat, stirring continuously until a soft dough forms. When ready, the mixture should appear more dry than wet.
3. Remove from the heat, allow to cool for about two minutes, then knead until smooth.
4. Store in an air-tight container or bag. If kept in the fridge, you can expect home-made dough to last for around two months.

Chocolate-related websites for children

There are many websites which explore World Chocolate Day and chocolate in general, in a child-friendly way. Here are some links to get you started:

• World Chocolate Day: Test your choccy knowledge - BBC Newsround
• 38 Chocolate Facts for Kids, Teachers & Adults - Fun History of Chocolate – Cocoa & Heart (cocoaandheart.co.uk)
• History of Chocolate: Cocoa Beans & Xocolatl | HISTORY